The New Nation - Internet Edition

A RECENT study on the situation of calorie intake of a section of the people in the country has given a bleak picture. A large section of the people are not able to meet their daily minimum calorie needs. The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) conducted the survey sponsored by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) since July 2007. According to media reports, the study reveals that the failure to have the required calorie intake is due to their inability to earn enough to meet thier basic needs. Though the media report mentioned of no specific figure, according to the Bangladesh Economic Review 2007, the percentage of absolute poverty in 1995-96 was 47.5 that dropped to 40.4 in 2005. On the other hand, the percentage of hard poor people in 1995-96 was 25.1 that came down to 19.5 in 2005.

BIDS assumed 2189 calorie intake per person per day as the minimum need for nutrition and found 1894 calorie as the actual intake yielding an average deficit of 295 calorie. This actual calorie intake is very close to that of the hard-core poverty line. According to the review, people whose average calorie intake is below 2122 calorie are considered living on the absolute poverty line and those taking below1805 calories on the hard-core poverty line.

Though the figures from the Economic Review showed a trend of decrease in the percentage of people living below the poverty line, this situation is likely to be seriously aggravated by the on-going inflation exacerbated by the consecutive floods that inundated the northern and central districts and the tropical super cyclone Sidr which devastated the coastal regions. The natural disasters caused loss of lives and property. The government and WFP-sponsored initiatives to feed the cyclone-hit people for a period of four to six months are expected to reduce the impending risks of severe malnutrition and calorie deficit in the affected areas. A medium and long term plan for rehabilitation can help reduce poverty. The flood-hit people suffered huge losses of their standing crops and also land and homesteads as a result of river bank erosion. On the other hand, the cyclone mowed down almost everything people had.

The affected people must be given all out assistance to overcome the crises. Partial solution is not going to bring any meaningful change in the poverty situation prevailing in the country. The overall growth of the economy, at least of the vital sectors, and equitable distribution of income can effectively improve the situation of the poor. Poverty alleviation presupposes employment of the poor in income generating jobs. The government, with assistance from donor countries, has adopted a massive programme for rehabilitation of the economy. It is hoped that successful implementation of the above programme will help improve the state of the poverty-stricken people.